Driving Tips for Deer Season

The Daily Auto Insider: Mating and migrating season makes it prime time for deer/car collisions.

Oh deer! It's the beginning of mating and migrating season, and that makes it prime time for deer/car collisions, warns the Insurance Federation of Minnesota.

In Minnesota alone, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, more than 5,500 drivers hit a deer. These accidents resulted in 5 deaths and more than 500 injuries. "It may surprise some people, however, that for every crash that's reported, we estimate that at least 2 to 3 go unreported," said Alan Rodgers, Research Analyst with the Department of Public Safety. "That means the number of deer/car collisions should be more like 16,500."

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Nationally, the number of deer/car collisions is on the rise. According to the National Safety Council, there were roughly 520,000 animal related accidents in 2001, up from 490,000 the previous year. One hundred people were killed and more than 4,000 were injured.

The Insurance Federation of Minnesota estimates that each deer/car collision costs about $2,000 to $3,500 per comprehensive claim. Experts add that repair costs can sometimes double if the car's airbags are deployed.

The Insurance Federation of Minnesota suggests the following defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer:

Be attentive in early morning and evening hours, the most active time for deer.

Be alert and drive with caution when you are moving through a deer-crossing zone. Look for other deer after one has crossed the road. Deer seldom run alone.

Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away. If necessary, use your high-beam headlights to see the deer better.

Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, rather than swerving to avoid them. It can confuse the deer as to where to run.

Wear your seat belt. Most serious injuries in car/deer crashes occur because people were not wearing their seat belt.

If your vehicle strikes a deer it's best not to touch the animal. The frightened animal, in attempting to move, could hurt you or itself, warns IFM. The best procedure is to get your car off the road, if possible, and call the police.

Contact your insurance agent or company representative to report any damage to your car. Collision with a deer or animals is covered under the comprehensive portion of your automobile policy.

Incentives Average Over $1500 Per Vehicle

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The average manufacturer incentive per vehicle sold in the United States was $2,630, up $524 or 24.9% from August 2002 and down 1.4% from July 2003, according to a news release by Edmunds.com.

Motors nameplates hit a record high of $3,687 per unit in August, compared to $1,752 for European automakers, $1,484 for Korean automakers, and $1,032 for Japanese automakers.

Despite the increased incentives spending by the domestic manufacturers, their market share declined to an historic low of 57.6%.

In August, Ford's incentives spending went up by 2.8% to $3,472 per unit while its market share dropped 0.6% to 17.5%. General Motors' incentives spending per vehicle went over the $4,000 mark for the first time in August, up 1.4% to $4,025 per unit, while its market share declined 1.3% to 28.4%. Chrysler increased its incentives spending by 0.7% to $3,193 but saw its market share decline 0.1% to 11.7% in August.

Among vehicle segments, large SUVs had the highest average incentives last month at $4,166, followed by vans at $3,597 and large cars at $3,536. Sports cars had the lowest average incentives at $1,124, followed by luxury SUVs at $1,599 and compact SUVs at $1,619. Large trucks have gained the most market share since August 2002, up 2.1% to 14.1%, while compact cars have lost the most market share during that period, down 2% to 14.2%.

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